Tasting Fear, by: Shannon McKenna (review)

Tasting Fear by:
Shannon McKenna


Tasting Fear is a combined novel of three novellas, based on three sisters who, after finding their foster mother dead embark on an adventure full of intrigue and romance.

A killer, bent on the destruction of the three girls is looking for priceless sketches, their mother, an Italian countess happens to possess. After accidentally killing the countess, the killer must rely on his talents in order to find out what he must from her daughters; Nancy, Nell, and Vivi D'Onofrio, the three Irish women adopted as young girls by Lucia D'Onofrio.

Lucia, having gotten the upper hand by dying long before the thief could get the answers he wanted leaves clues for the three sisters, starting with some very pretty expensive jewelry.

To be honest however, while I enjoy a good romance, it’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a contemporary, and this is perhaps not the best book to get me back into them. The story had a great plot line, but the story itself was a little dull. The characters started out great with a strong sense of who they were, but as the story went along, I got a sense that they tended to be a bit dry.

The story starts out very dramatic with the death of the Countess, and Marco, but fades a little. The only real drama was during the killer’s point of view, and only because he seemed like a disturbed individual.

That is not to say that this was a bad book, I’m sure given the right reader, that this book is terrific, that reader is just not me.

I appreciate getting to read the book, I’m sure the author put a lot work into it, and I applaud her that ability, but this was just not the book for me. I intend to give this book another try a little later, but for now, I’m just going to leave it at that, and give it a 3. However, keep in mind that I have never read a book by Shannon McKenna before, and this book alone is not enough to keep me from checking out her other stories.

My Wicked Little Lies, by Victoria Alexander. (review)

Book number 2 on my review list this month, and a great pick.


So, I’m starting to get a little burned out of the historical romances, which means I will soon be switching back to the paranormal romances.
Meanwhile I just finished reading ‘My Wicked Little Lies’ and it was pretty good. I’d give it a 4.5 out of 5 simply because while it was enjoyable, there were a few slow moments, where I wanted to skip parts. For the most part, the plot was fantastic, there was a lot going on to grab the attention, but a couple times it moved a little slow.



I really liked reading this story though and I wouldn’t mind reading it again, and while I got this book free, I would not regret having paid for it. The characters were believable, the plot unique, and unlike anything I’ve read before.



It was a pleasant change to the cliché normally created in a historical romance. I especially liked the way Evie played such a large part of the story, and not just in the ballroom, but on the ‘battle field’ as well. I know that is hard to do given the time period, and I am impressed. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the story! Definitely recommended!


The ending was a huge shock…I wasn’t really prepared for it, so that’s good- and I loved the secondary romance that went along side by side with the main plot. My favorite part would have been the Rouse section however as I really love a little revenge in romances, particularly when you know the characters will end up together regardless.


Over all, it’s one of the better romances I’ve read lately, and I look forward for more from this author.

A Seal in Wolfs Clothing, by Terry Spear.

A Seal in Wolfs Clothing, by Terry Spear.


Fair warning- I’m going to gush and I apologize. I know it’s not very professional, which is why I apologized I advance, but sometimes a girl just can’t help it!


Terry Spear has, and always will be on my list of favorite authors. She’s been there for some time, since I picked up one of her books from the public library, but every book I read of hers just seems to cement her place on my shelves.

To be honest, getting one of her wolf books in the mail is a little like Christmas to me. I anticipated each day, until it finally arrives, and then I squeal like a teenage girl before I finally mange to calm down and read it.


I was no different with this one. –You’ve been warned.



The last book I reviewed by Terry Spear was ‘Dreaming of the Wolf’, and before that was; ‘Heart of the Highland Wolf’ so I’ve gotten used to her writing style and I really like it. Truthfully, I love her Highland series the most I think, simply because of the romance of it, and the accents of course. LOVE the accents. But in this review I’m going to talk about ‘A Seal in Wolfs Clothing’ which I just finished.


We start out where we left off in ‘To Tempt the Wolf’ with Hunter’s twin sister Meara. She’s determined to find a mate, and why shouldn’t she be? With her brother safely on his honeymoon, she’s finally left to her own devices, and has every intention on utilizing the time to herself. She’s already made plans with several apha’s and is quite intent on getting to know them while her overbearing overprotective brother is away. What she doesn’t count on is Finn Emerson coming to screw it all up.


As part of Hunter’s elite Navy SEALS team, Finn, and every other male in the vicinity knows that Meara is strictly off limits, and even though he keeps telling himself that, he can’t make his body listen. He wants her, and the worst part? She wants him too, there’s no resistant to keep them apart….except a deadly assassin.


I am in LOVE with this book! I say that a lot, I know, but trust me, Terry Spear is a great author, and she has several note-worthy books, it bears repeating! This one in particular is great because we are thrown into the world of intrigue, and adventure. We get to read about sexy SEALS, and their wolfish ways, while joining in on the mystery of finding a killer, and even falling in love along the way. What isn’t to love about that???


Meara is strong, independent, and bull headed- she doesn’t take orders, well and she’s all too ready to kick butt, while Finn is strong, protective, and not mention he’s one of her brother’s best friends. He knows the rules the same as everyone else, but can’t keep himself from wanting to be with her. It’s like they were MADE for each other!


*I can't wait to see if we hear about Bjornolf next!*


If I haven’t said it yet, I’ll say it now- this book is definitely a keeper!!!! And if you don’t believe me, well….you’ll just have to check it out for yourself. “A Seal in Wolfs Clothing” by: Terry Spear.





For more of her books, check out her website at; http://www.terryspear.com/werewolf_series.html

The Seduction of Phaeton Black, By Jillian Stone (review)

The Seduction of Phaeton Black, By Jillian Stone
*Paranormal Investigator.






So I’ve been reading this book for a couple weeks, and although it is a really great story, I just can’t seem to get interested in it.





Normally when I read a book, I can read it in 5-10 hours, depending on how well the plot interests me, and while this book has a unique plot, It just doesn’t seem to be keeping my interest- but as I said, the book is still really good, so I’m going to go ahead and give it a 5 star, because my lack of interest should not judge the book.





So, The Seduction of Phaeton Black, is kinda like a steam punk, in that it is in an unusual time frame- One that I do not immediately recognize. Phaeton Black is an on again-off again employee of Scotland Yard who lives in what I understand to be the basement of a pleasure house.





He is good at his job, but his unique ability to see things that should not exist have gotten him a couple eye-rolls from his fellow employees, and so they don’t completely trust him, but a series of grisly murders forces them to hire him back- because while they do not necessarily like, or trust him, there is no doubt that he is good at what he does.

In one instance of the book, it seems like the ‘normal’ characters do not really know about the ‘other’ things that exist in their world; but a few pages later, it seems that maybe they do. So I was a little confused as to why Phaeton black was such an outcast. –That being said, Ms. Stone was able to develop a new world for me, which is somewhat difficult for an avid reader such as myself, so I definitely give her props for that.





Now, of course this is a romance, and as our leading lady we have, America Jones. She is sort of an odd character, with little to no known background, other than her father’s shipping business. She too is a bit unusual in that she can sense ‘others’ and how they feel. Together the two should make a wonderful team, and you would expect them to fall madly in love, but I feel at times as if they are repelling each other, more than attracting. Now that is not to say that there weren’t plenty of times when the love was clear, so maybe it is just my understanding that clouds my judgment on that particular score.





Don’t get me wrong, the book was great, the plot was new, something different that I have not come across before; the characters believable, if a bit challenging to understand- to be clear, this is one of those books you really have to follow along to understand. This book deserves a lot more focus than me, a young mother of a 3 yr old can really give, so perhaps the fault is not with the book, but with me as a reader.





This book is going on my shelves, as I would like to read it again another time where hopefully I will be able to have a better understanding of what’s going on. I recommend this book to someone with a lot of time on their hands, who can give it the attention it deserves.





To be completely honest, I didn’t always know exactly what was going on, so maybe that is why the book couldn’t hold my interest. I don’t know, but give the book a try anyway, as I’m sure our tastes differ, and this is just my opinion, so you might have a better chance at it than I did.

Alaskan Fury By: Sara King (Review)

First Paranormal Review!!!!

Alaskan Fury

By: Sara King

So Sara King is a new author I have been enjoying lately. Alaskan Fury is the second book in her series, the first being Alaskan Fire –and I’ve got to say, BOTH books are AMAZING. I know I’m gushing; I’m trying not to, so stick with me, while I try to explain WHY I love this series.

I’ve already put my review of Alaskan Fire on Amazon and if you check it out, you’ll see that I am not the only one in love with it, and that it is totally worthy of your book-lust.

So now I’m gonna talk about Alaskan Fury, and why IT is so great.

We start out where we left of in Alaskan Fire, with Kaashifah the little wolf we were introduced in her first book. She and her friend; ‘Aqrab (I use that term lightly) –the djinni.

I don’t think I’d ever heard of a djinni before this story, so the term is still a little new to me, but to my understanding he is some sort of gene in a lamp type. In the first book she introduces a different sort of world, kind of like realms, but in this one we get to take a closer look and even venture into one. It wasn’t like most books I read however, which of course is why I love her books so much, they are never like other books, it’s as if she takes some of the same concepts, and turns them into something completely different and foreign, which is a hard thing to do as we see with some authors who like to repeat each other’s plots.

With Alaskan Fury however, we are introduced to an entirely new breed of creatures, some new, some old, some I’ve never even heard of before, and every page is like a new adventure. Admittedly, I DID skip parts. BUT that is not the fault of the book, but rather my impatience to get to the next part. I regret that decision however, as I missed quite a bit, and I have every intention of going back and re-reading it, as the book deserves.

I am not going to give any spoilers here, as I know how that can ruin the anticipation of a new book, but I WILL say that I LOVED it, and I can’t wait until she gets the next one out. I was extremely pleased with the ending as well. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next!

If you like Fantasy romance, sword fights, and mystery, this is DEFINITLEY the book for you!! –Be sure to look out for Alaskan Fury! It’s a real page-turner!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

'The Vampire Next Door' By: Ashlyn Chase (Review)

Last night, I finished reading "The Vampire Next Door" by: Ashlyn Chase. 

It only took me 2 days to read, thanks to the steady plot line, and an interesting dialogue.



'Room for Rent; Normal need not apply'- From the very first sentence of the synopsis, to the very last words of Chapter 25, this book kept me hooked. The characters are addictive, ranging from odd, to weird, and back again. Cute accents, and steamy scenes keep the reader interested, and I for one look forward to her next installment. All in all, I'd give it a 5 star review!






(Amazon)- Product Description
In this third installment of Chase's lively, sexy, paranormal trilogy, we meet witch Morgaine, who is deathly afraid of the dark, and her vigilante vampire neighbor Sly, who has his reasons for hating sunlight. Sly needs Morgaine's magic to help heal a broken fang, but with further help, and sometimes hindrance, from the wacky apartment dwellers around them, they may become each other's last hope for a normal life...
Praise for Strange Neighbors:
"Plenty of laughs along with steamy sex scenes... the good-natured fun never stops." -Publishers Weekly




About the Author

Multi-published author Ashlyn Chase specializes in characters who reinvent themselves, having reinvented herself numerous times. She has worked as a psychiatric nurse, for the Red Cross, and has a degree in behavioral sciences. Her romance Strange Neighbors gets rave reviews. She lives with her true-life hero husband in beautiful New Hampshire.

Forbidden Love, By Terry Spear. (Review)

Friday, December 2, 2011

Forbidden Love, By Terry Spear. (Review)

Here we are again, with another of one of Ms. Spear’s fantastic books.
‘Forbidden Love’ By; Terry Spear.


To be honest I enjoyed this one far more than the Western/Time travel, not because it was any better written, or more enjoyable, but because it is a little closer to what I usually read. I love this kind of story!


It seems as though I can never get enough!


This one was a little bit different than most vampire books. *No, the vampire did not sparkle* In this story, we have the star-crossed lovers, literally kept apart through out her many lifetimes. A true Romeo and Juliet story, with a whole new spin!


I must confess, I’ve never particularly liked Romeo and Juliet, I can’t read something that doesn’t have a happy ending. I crave romance, with a good outcome.


Elizabeth MacLeod was brave, albeit foolish in her time, to have chosen her love over family. She embraced it, yearned for it, and sought to escape the domination of her family, only to die at their hands.


Alena MacLeod is the very epitome of femininity; she’s strong, shapely, determined, and brave. Everything a woman should be! Through centuries she has been kept from her true love, driven apart by circumstances, and even fatality at the hands of her very own blood. In the beginning she doesn’t remember him, but she recognizes something in him, something she doesn’t understand.


He’s a marked man, and she’s his assassin!


As far as Huntress’s go, Alena has always been his natural enemy, but Sutton, A.K.A Ephraim fell in love with her long ago, before things like the Legion, and the Brotherhood ever existed, when they were just man and woman. She’s carried his child, risked her family’s ire, and everything she holds dear to be with him, and he's loved her through centuries, doing everything he can conceive to get her back.


Repeated attempts fail, but when the Legion, (Hunters, and Huntress’s fated to kill the rogue vampires) find that he has something that could destroy them all, they do the very thing that goes against their every law. They send the one person he can’t possibly hope to defend himself against; his Elizabeth reincarnated, in the form of her Great Granddaughter, Alena MacLeod! They resemblance is unmistakable, the memories are overwhelming, and it is she! His long lost love at last, sent to kill him and destroy that which the Legion finds threatening. But he’s innocent, and no one and nothing will keep them apart.


The Legion aren’t the only one’s stirring trouble, a new band of vampires, better known as the Brotherhood want equality, and they're willing to do anything to get it, even if it means wiping out those who try and stop them. Especially if it means killing the Legion.


Alena and Ephraim must battle against everything and everyone they know and love once more, not only for their love, but for their very survival!

I was a little surprised at who the bad guys turned out to be, and who the good guys were. Particular one named Kisaro, who you want to hate, I mean he’s done every despicable thing you can imagine in this story, and yet it’s all in the name of Love! Love for whom you might ask? Well you’ll have to read to find out!


I love this concept! It’s just complicated enough to keep you interested, while at the same time revealing just a few secrets each chapter to make you yearn for more. I mean- Who DOESN"T love a sexy highlander fighting for your love? It’s impossible to stop reading this once you start, so clear some time on your schedule for this one!

Dreaming of the Wolf, By: Terry Spear (Review)

Monday, December 12, 2011

Dreaming of the Wolf, By: Terry Spear (Review)

Hello readers!


I’m here with yet another book review, after all, that is what Midnight Reads is all about; reviewing books I’ve read. This is a non profit blog, dedicated to sharing my love of reading with anyone who is interested enough to take the time and check us out!


Today I’m reviewing ‘Dreaming of the Wolf’ By: Terry Spear.


I was lucky enough to get to an advanced copy of this book, which just came out on December 1st and I am super excited to tell you about it!


This book has EVERYTHING!!!


No joke, there are Mob bosses, murders, wolves, and best of all LOVE. We start out meeting Alicia Greiston who had had the misfortunate of getting herself wrapped up in a crime spree; as a bounty hunter she’s been given a case that is more personal than professional. She’s hunting her mother’s killers, which given her track record, should have been easy, except they’re on to her, and they want her as bad as she wants them!


Enter Jake Silver, an artist with a bad boy look. He takes beautiful pictures of lush forestry, and finds Alicia in more trouble than she can handle. He’s drawn to her, and immediately decides he’ll do whatever it takes to save her, whether she’s human or not.


Together they face gun-totting mobsters, who aren’t always what they seem, suspicious cops, and of course the call of the wolf. With his family pushing him to make her his and a vendetta against the Mob boss himself, what’s a girl to do?


Well she can shoot them, bite them, and apparently she can send her new family (A pack of wolves) after them.


“She’s good at surviving, I’ll give her that.”- A quote from the book, that I couldn’t have said better myself. I’m an in love with her spirit, how many other girls can go around chasing bad guys, getting shot at, kidnapped, and turned into a wolf, while simultaneously falling in love? Not many. Not to mention she might be pregnant?


Jake is a true hero, he is protective, and while having the traditional wolf qualities, he also recognizes his mate’s need for independence, which makes them a complete power couple. They’re invincible, and I am in awe.

My favorite part is after she's lied to the detectives about how many murders she seen, or guys she's shot, they've left, and she turns to her friends, and says: "I didn't witness any OTHER shootings or killings, I swear it!" I laughed so hard!


Terry Spear has managed to once again write another fantastic novel that leaves me begging for more.


*I’m waiting for Tom’s story now* (Lol)




So we have fainting, guns, mobs, wolves, murder, love, lust, family, and mystery all wrapped into one! Wanna know who killed whom, and why everyone is shooting at each other? You’ll have to read the story to find out!

A Ghost of a Chance at Love, By: Terry Spear. (Review)

Thursday, December 1, 2011

A Ghost of a Chance at Love, By: Terry Spear. (Review)

So I have been given a great opportunity, to review a new story, by a great author; Terry Spear.


I've actually read her books before, so I knew I would like her story, but I didn't know how much.


‘A Ghost of a Chance at Love’ is actually a little out of my league, because while I love the paranormal/fantasy genre, I am a bit out of my league in Time travel. Not just time travel, but Western as well.
Gulp! Bravely, I delved into this book with admittedly a little hesitancy.
And I am SOOOOOOO glad I did!!!! As my first real western/time travel novel, I was actually impressed! -Not that I didn't think it wouldn't be impressive, Ms. Spear is a GREAT author after all, I have enjoyed her books before, but I was certainly not expecting this!


I LOVED it! As I said, this isn't my usual genre, so I tread a little carefully here, not exactly sure what I should compare it to; As far as romances go, it was beautiful! Masterfully written, concise, and extremely well detailed. It was like I'd gone back in time myself!


At times I was frustrated on behalf of the characters, sometimes cheering them on, and even gasping during their peril. I wanted to shout at the book. How could so much happen to one person? Or should I say two, considering, this IS a romance.


These characters are clearly made of stronger stuff than I. I would not have lasted a day in their lives. In the beginning, it's a bit foggy what's going on, we have the main character, a lovely American, Lisa, who's obviously had a hard day, what with her hasty divorce and all, she doesn't quite realize she isn't where she's supposed to be; and we have the sexy cowboy, Jack, who's obviously had a long day as well, who’s dreaming about his deceased fiancée. They both seem a little surprised to find each other, him being that it's HIS hotel room and her being in a completely different time period than the one she fell asleep in.


They're chemistry is pretty much instantaneous. I admit I was in love with him from the start. I'm a sucker for charming hospitality! Through out the story, he continuously tries to help her; despite the fact that he thinks she's sick, crazy, or maybe both. Against all odds, he keeps trying to help her, even when the odds are against them and it's HIS neck on the line.


I was relieved when they figured out what was causing her to time travel, and more than a little excited when she somehow managed to bring him back with her. I thought perhaps they should have stayed in her time where things were easier to understand, but then it wasn't, not for him anyway, so it's more of a compromise, who could survive best, where. I felt like a kid at Christmas, waiting for his reaction to all the discoveries he'd surely make.


I was a bit surprised at how easily he handled being transported through time. He didn't really react to his first car ride, which HAD to have been terrifying; or the washer and dryer, which was probably more confusing than anything. He DID react strongly to the scantily clad women, I was glad to see, I liked seeing his reaction.


I've always been one for a faster pace, and this book IS a little slower in some parts, and then a little rushed in others, but it balances well.


What I wouldn't love to be this girl, with so many men in love with her, despite a few of them being crazy, or evil, or even on the wrong side of the law. She's obviously a beautiful girl, brave, courageous, and full of life, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to survive being shot at, kidnapped, transported through time, a pawn for the FBI, and probably the most frustrating of all, mistaken identity!


I was a bit bummed about a few of the deaths, but in the end it worked out, so I wasn't TOO disappointed. What's a good story without a couple deaths, right?


I think I fell a little in love with the main character's brother, Mathew, as well. He seemed so charming, and affectionate, as well as hospitable, like his brother, Jack. I was always glad to see him when things got complicated.
I am a bit more familiar with the settings, as well as their speech, I DO live in Kentucky, but those who don't know or haven't heard a southerner talk might have a little trouble following along with some of the slang.
Despite that, this story was very in-depth; I personally didn't have any trouble what-so-ever following along, despite its complicated story-line. I like a little mystery in my books, and this book held nothing back in that department.


I fully recommend this book!
After I started reading it, I just couldn't put it down! -Can't wait to see what else Ms. Spear comes up with!

'Changeling Moon' By: Dani Harper (review)

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

'Changeling Moon' By: Dani Harper (review)

So, I know it's been a while since I've done a review, and I have read several books since the last one.


One of the newest is from an author named; Dani Harper, who has several books out now. The first of which, is called "Changeling Moon."


I admit, I was a bit skeptical at first, simply because I'd never read any of her books, and I'm a bit of a pessimist, but since it was available at my library for my e-reader, I figured why not! It's free! I was NOT disappointed.


In fact, I was a bit jealous. I LOVED the book, and it was so well written, and easy to follow, I actually stayed up all night reading it.


It's a fairly used concept with a whole new spin! Very original in my opinion.


I really loved the the way the main characters related to each other, it wasn't like a lot of the cliche, boy-meets-girl, fall-in-love, get-married, someone-almost-gets-killed drama that are in a lot of new books. Of course there WAS drama, and I practically drooled over each page, and of course I fell in love with the one of the characters, as I tend to do.


The end in particular, not to give out any spoilers- but it was fantastic!!! I was definitely not expecting THAT outcome. Anyway, if you wanna read more, be sure to check her out on Amazon. Other books in the series, are: Changeling Dream, and Changeling Dawn, so be sure to check out those as well!


Well worth the read!

Real Vampires, By Gerry Barlett. (review)

Previously reviewed.
Real Vampires, By Gerry Barlett. (review)

So, even though it's been awhile since I've read this book, I feel like I should review it, because it is by one of my favorite authors, and I LOVE her books.


This book is called "Real Vampires Live Large" and it is the 2nd book in her series, the first being: "Real Vampires Have Curves". I have read both books, as well as the third: "Real Vampires Get Lucky."


She also has books 4, 5, 6, and 7 out now, (Yes I'm behind) you can find all those on her site:
Gerry Bartlett. com or Amazon of course. I'll have the link for "Live Large" in a little while, but first, I want to tell you about this AWESOME series.


I actually first saw Gerry Bartlett on the shelves of my local library, and they had "Real Vampires Have Curves" which was spectacular. Admittedly, I was first drawn to the cover; it's animation, but it was more the title that drew me in. I am a curvy girl myself, and I relate well to things that are put closer to my perspective, not to mention that it was a free read, so of course I had to check it out!


She hooked me in almost immediately. The books are so funny, they have sarcasm, and of course the 'troubles' of being a curvy girl in a world of vampires. Gloriana St. Claire, (Glory) embodies every woman's woes. She has guy trouble, clothes problems, and then of course, being that this is a novel, we have to throw in that she is a vampire, and that people seem to want her dead.


Her sire, the Sexy Scottish, Blade turned her while she happened to be bloated, and now they aren't together, to his dismay, so he's sent his 'friend' Valdez, who stays in the shape of a talking dog, to 'guard' her, while they are apart, and even though she tried to resist her sires charms, she continuously finds herself in his arms, despite every attempt to put him behind her.


In this installment, we have a vampire hunter who's out for her blood, and a new drug called Vampire Viagra, which is highly addictive, created by Energy vamps, who want Glory's blood.


Why you may ask?


Glory is not like other vampires, not only is she NOT rail thin, she also is not very good at vampiric super powers, like shifting shape, so all that psychic energy is stored inside of her, and the Energy vamps wanna tap into it.


So with her boyfriend/sire off chasing a vampire hunter, she is left alone to battle the energy vamps, which happen to be quite a bit stronger than her.


Don't worry, she has friends to help her, like: Florence Da Vinci...who might have been married to Leonardo Da Vinci, and Flo's brother Damien, who is rumored to be Casanova himself. I did say 'MIGHT' so you'll have to read the books to find out.


You would think Fighting vampire hunters, and energy vamps would be enough to put a girl out, but did I forget to mention she also runs her own business, and that someone tries to burn down said business? Throw in a couple steamy love scene, some quirky remarks, and stoned vampires, and you've got yourself a rocking-good time!


Be warned: Do not touch Flo's shoes!


I can NOT tell you how much I love these books!!!


The "Real Vampires" series is published by Berkley sensation.

Dark Slayer by, Christine Feehan (review)

Previous reviewed from Midnight Reads.
Monday, November 28, 2011

Dark Slayer

by, Christine Feehan

Just finished one of her latest installments in the Carpathian series.....LOVE!!!!!!!!!!


I love Christine Feehan, and since I first discovered her, over a year ago, I have read every book of hers that I can get my hands on; including the GhostWalker series, and the Drake Sisters series. I admit, the Drake Sisters were not my favorite, but that was not because they weren't wonderfully imaginative, or beautifully written. At the Time they just weren't interesting.... However I LOVE the Ghost Walkers, and Carpathian's, which brings me to my latest review;


Dark Slayer, one the newest Carpathian novels, just finished reading it last night, and...*SIGH* LOVED it!



I simply CANNOT get enough of those books! This book in particular of the whole series really ties up a lot of loose ends, and I simply adored Razvan, I mean who wouldn't? He is a dream, and simply amazing. Of course the end was left where she could still write another book if she wanted, and no doubt probably will, but for me this pretty much brings the whole thing to a crescendo.


It's not like the other books in the story which come before it, there seems to be more quality, more adventure. *Delicious*


Spoiler alert*- I LOVE the wolves!!!!


Ivory is tenacious, and you gotta love her protectiveness towards her life mate.


I have been in love with the Carpathian's since the beginning, who wouldn't love all that honor, and power, but this is one of her best yet! Great job!

'Heart of the Highland Wolf' By: Terry Spear. (Review)

Previously posted from Midnight Reads.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012

'Heart of the Highland Wolf' By: Terry Spear. (Review)

So, I borrowed ‘Heart of the Highland Wolf’ By: Terry Spear from my public library, because A; I LOVE Terry Spear, I CANNOT get enough of her books! Of course you could probably already guess that since I have reviewed not 1, not 2, but three of her newer releases, not to mention she is in my favorites list on the right.

And B: because It is one of the few books of hers I have NOT read.


SO, I was super excited to get it home, after all; I was on the wait list for this book, so I was really looking forward to it.


OF COURSE I was not disappointed, impatient maybe, but not disappointed. I have learned by now that Terry Spear is going to deliver, I have not read a bad book from her YET, and I doubt I ever will, she’s just too good at what she does.


So ANYWAY, I read the book in less than a day, (I’m a speed reader) and it took me a little less than 5 hours to read from start to finish, because it was literally THAT good. Not joke, no exaggeration, I LOVED it!


Ian Macneill is ‘King of the hill’ in this tale, as the eldest brother of four; sexy, Scottish wolves, he oversees the safety and security of his family, and fellow pack members, in his Scottish home, which JUST HAPPENS to be a castle.


*Insert a delicious shiver*


This is actually one of the first stories I’ve read that the hero wasn’t filthy rich; I was kinda surprised. It was a GOOD surprise though Ian and his brother’s need help financially, and famous author Julia Wildthorn is gonna bring it. Somehow she convinces her best friend, an assistant to a major movie producer to use the castle as their backdrop for a new movie. Now, that in itself would have been interesting, but there is A LOT more going on than a moody laird hating the film crew.


Julia and her friend are BOTH unattached female wolves!!!


Not ONLY that, but we also have a little intrigue because someone apparently has it in for Julia, and who would have guessed that the Scottish Laird would end up needing his mate for more than a little monetary gain?


No, he was not aware that she was the one who insisted the film crew use HIS castle, so no worries about him being a fortune hunter.


*This book is FULL of everything I hold near and dear in a romance; drama, suspense, and of course steamy love scenes!


I HIGHLY recommend ‘Heart of the Highland Wolf’- and give it 5 stars!!!!


(No doubt about it, you’ll LOVE this story)

'The Guardian' By: Sherrilyn Kenyon. (review)

Previously published from Midnight Reads.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012

'The Guardian' By: Sherrilyn Kenyon. (review)




I want to start out by saying first, that I don't think I've read Sherrilyn Kenyon before, despite her high recommendations. For some reason I have been leery of her books, (No clue why), yet the other day, I found myself with a little extra money, in the book section of my local store, and out of everything on the shelf, she was the ONLY one that looked interesting.


Sooooo, obviously I bought it.


I am SO glad I did! She has officially made it on to my favorite author list, with this book alone!!!!! I nearly cried when this book ended, I wish it could have gone on forever! I would have happily spent the rest of my life reading it.


Why?


Lydia is a dream-hunter, a demi-god born to keep mortals from having nightmares, but not only that, she’s also a jackal shifter.


This is my very first shifter book, which includes jackals. So, I had NO IDEA what to expect, (Keep that in mind).


Already I am intensely interested, because I have an OBSESSION with anything dream related, so I was immediately drawn in by that fact alone.


-Spoiler- Add that she has descended the pits of hell in order to rescue her Godly father.


Now, I’m wondering how a demi-god can break into hell, and RESCUE a god, especially when he is so much more powerful than her, and has somehow gotten himself captured to begin with.


But apparently she can, and not only that, but she rescues someone else as well!!!! Talk about T-A-L-E-N-T-E-D!!!!


Who else does she rescue? Another demi-god! Only this one isn’t JUST a demi-god, he’s thousands of years old, and he’s been a prisoner so long he doesn’t even remember what the sun looks like.


Seth, son of Egyptian god; SET is a tortured soul. Literally. He has been a prisoner of Hell since he was a young child, and he has no clue what an honest person looks like, until he meets Lydia.


I seriously could NOT put this book down!!!!! I nearly passed out twice from holding my breath during some particularly good battle scenes.


Between the battles, the sexy love scenes, and the hilarious dialogue, there is no reason NOT to read this book!!!! You can’t help but fall in love with Seth, who WOULDN’T want to be the woman to heal his scarred soul?


Definitely a 5 star read, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!

Review of: -Just Like Heaven.- By: Julia Quinn

From JMO

Review of:

-Just Like Heaven.-
By: Julia Quinn




So I just finished “Just Like Heaven’ by Julia Quinn, and I’ve got to say as far as historical romances go, this one was pretty good. I’d give it 4.5 out of 5 stars, not because there was anything wrong with it, just because there wasn’t a whole lot happening. I loved her introductory summary, but as far as excitement, it was just a little lacking. Don’t get me wrong, the book was amazing, and I loved it, and would definitely read it again, but in comparison to other novels I’ve read, some by her, some not, it just didn’t have as much drama that most romances thrive on.


Over all, the story was well developed, well detailed, and beautifully written. I loved the main character’s (Honoria) humor, and her sense of family, and tradition. The author really did a great job pairing her hero and heroine in this book, and as far as the drama that DID occur, it was really nerve wracking to see whether or not the hero A.K.A Marcus would pull through. The ending in particular was great, I loved how she introduced Honoria’s brother, Daniel, though he was mentioned throughout the story, it was a pleasure to finally meet the man that mattered so much to the main characters, and I have to admit, I’m kinda interested to know if he is going to have his own story, because I would certainly buy it.

*If I had to pick a favorite part, I would have to say that watching Honoria dig a hole for her fake fall would have been the best, it was hilarious, and the fact that Marcus, her ‘guardian’ saw it all just added to the humor. Her attempt to be calculating DID kinda fall back on her, but it was amusing none the less.


*Loved the red shoe bit as well*


I highly recommended this story, an all-around great read, despite the lesser drama.


Of course you can find this book on Amazon, via the search box on the right sidebar, or you can go to their site, and search for Julia Quinn, and see all her other available books as well.





Book Description
Publication Date: May 31, 2011
Honoria Smythe-Smith is:
A) a really bad violinist
B) still miffed at being nicknamed "Bug" as a child
C) not in love with her older brother's best friend
D) all of the above

Marcus Holroyd is:
A) the Earl of Chatteris
B) regrettably prone to sprained ankles
C) not in love with his best friend's younger sister
D) all of the above

Together they:
A) eat quite a bit of chocolate cake
B) survive a deadly fever and the world's worst musical performance
C) fall quite desperately in love


It's Julia Quinn at her best, so you know the answer is . . .

My Review for: Alaskan Fire, By: Sara King-

A review from JMO-

My Review for:

Alaskan Fire, By: Sara King-

So I have been putting this review off for a few weeks, mostly because I wanted to make sure I gave a good review, A:) Because I LOVED the book, and B:) because it will be my first official paranormal book review here on JMO.


I have left a review on Amazon already, and thought maybe it was best just to leave that one instead, because It says exactly how I felt about the book without all the girlish fan-girl drooling.


My review on Amazon-
“I just could not stop reading this book!!!! I started reading this in the early evening, and literally COULD NOT put it down, I even gave up sleep in an attempt to finish it, and spent the rest of the day in a sort of daze just thinking about it! I never wanted it to end, and while I absolutely despised Jack in the beginning, I loved him in the end. Like so many others, I found myself being short with my husband every time I was angry at Jack; fortunately my husband understands, but it just goes to show how EASY it is to get involved in this story. Ms. King does not disappoint. Thankfully it is not like most cliché romances, because while I enjoy cliché, it's nice for something different as well, I loved every second, and would read it over and over again just to get another taste of the Alaskan wild she writes so passionately about.”


-ok so I lied, there was a little drooling, and maybe some squealing as well, BUT it IS a great book, and a great book deserves a little squealing every once in a while. READ it, you won’t be disappointed…or at least, I wasn’t! But then, that's JMO (Just My Opinion)

My Review for: Curses! A F***ed Up Fairy Tale

Added from JMO- 

Curses!
A F***ed Up Fairy Tale


By;
J.A Kazimer.

WARNING: May contain spoilers.


Okkkk, so I just finished another great book from Kensington, this one a little different than what I usually read.


I was attracted to it, mostly because of the title, I’ll admit, I’m the first one to preach not judging a book by its cover, but with a name like that, it begs to be investigated.


Our Hero, who is no real hero at all is cursed with being nice….yes, NICE. You wouldn’t think that would be a big deal, MOST heroes are nice, even when they do not appear to be, they are normally kind-hearted, which is nearly the same thing, except this one, RJ is not.


Next, we have the legendary Cinderella, only she’s dead, and the main character (heroine) is her ugly, actually not-so-ugly, step sister.


Already sounding delightful? Its gets better.


RJ is a villain, and in most story’s Villains are the bad guys, who eventually lose, and usually end up dead, and although he DID encounter many obstacles that should have left him dead, such as being pushed from Cinderella’s 3 story-high bedroom window, he survives; Reminding me of certain seemingly-immortal bugs.


He turns out to be an ok guy. Don’t get me wrong, he’s as evil as they come, but in a humorous-too smart-for his own good, kinda way. Not in the demented, psychotic kinda way. In fact he is the only one in the entire story that seems to have any kind of sense, other than the princess of course.


Asia, the ‘ugly-wicked’ step-sister, we found out, is not really ugly as she is cursed, but is most definitely as wicked as they come. You’ll have to read the book to find out what I mean by that.


Now as the title says, this is not your usual fairy tale. In fact, it is unlike any fairytale I’ve ever heard, except that somehow the author has included almost every one I can think of through witty, sarcastic humor. Seriously, hilarious!


Admittedly, this book reminds a bit of the Shrek stories but with a lot more cussing, which is not necessarily a bad thing, since Shrek is for kids, and this book is clearly for adults.


There was a little censorship when it came to the naughty bits, which is ok, the rest of the book more than makes up for what it lacks in seduction.


I highly recommend clearing your schedule to read this one, as it is a bit complex in the plot line, and while being entertaining it WILL confuse you if you don’t pay attention. Don’t worry though; there are no boring parts to skip, so you’ll have no problem with that.


This book is definitely a keeper, because while it isn’t what I usually read, I think that’s what makes it so refreshing to me. I particularly love the killer blue birds…yes, I said KILLER. Those demented little foul are NOT animals you want to mess with, and if you’re on their hit list, I highly recommend finding a way off it.


My favorite part, (which was harder to choose than I thought) is not an actual part, but more of person. I LOVE the villain (RJ). I love his wit, his humor, his ability to love the princess, despite her continued attempts to kill him…the way he stumbles through the story, attempting to solve what he believes to be the murder of Cinderella, his ability to take a beating and keep on going, and mostly his ability to solve problems. There is no comparing to the way his twisted mind solves things; in fact I consider him very intelligent, though that may be saying more for my IQ than his.

Anyway, I loved the book, the plot, the romance, EVERYTHING. I highly recommend it, strongly encourage anyone who loves a f***ed fairytale to check it out, and definitely anyone who likes paranormal, or fantasy, because while this is not exactly what I’d normally classify under those genres, it is definitely not your run of the mill contemporary either. I mean, there are killer blue birds, what’s normal about that? This book is witty, fun, and hilarious, a perfect combo if you ask me.